Machine for shaping shoe uppers



July 4, 1939. 'A G. H. DovE ET AL 2,164,864

MACHINE ron SHAPING sHoE vuPPERs July 4. 1939- s. H. DovE E'r AL 2,164,864

uAcHINE son SHAPING sHoE UPPERs Filed Fel 24, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR SHAPING SHOE UPPERS Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,217 In Great Britain June 28, 1935 22 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for shaping and pressing shoe uppers, more especially of otherwise substantially completed shoes, in order to straighten and narrow the top opening so that it will more closely hug the foot, and to so curve the top rim inwardly and thin the lining edge beneath the edge of the outer as to conceal or substantially conceal the top edge .of the lining from View.

More particularly this invention relates to a form over which the shoe upper may be placed and against which it may be pressed by outer presser members, and it has for an object to provide such a form which can be used satisfactorily with shoes of a considerable range of sizes. To this end the form is made expansible, being adjustable widthwise. To this end it is formed in two lateral sections which maybe adjustably spaced, more particularly at their forward ends.

A further object is to provide presser members for cooperation with this form.

A further object is to provide for heating such a form,

For a more complete understanding of this in- 25 Vention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are fragmentary side and front elevations, respectively, of a machine embodying this invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the shoe form.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3,.

Figures 5, 6 and 'I are detail sections on the corresponding section lines of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a top plan of one of the presser members.

Figure 9 is a detail section on line 9 9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail similar to a portion of Figure 8 and showing a modification.

40 Referring to Figures ll and 2, at 1 is indicated a bracket which may be secured in any suitable way to the front edge portion of a table or bench 2. 'Ihis bracket I at its upper end carries a gooseneck portion 3 which projects out forwardly of the table edge and has secured at its outer end a bracket 4, which forms a support for a shoe form 5 shown more particularly in Figures 3 to 7.

Cooperating with opposite sides of this shoe form are presser members 6 carried by arms 'l which are fulcrumed at 8 on extensions il` from the bracket I. The inner faces of the presser member 6 are generally complemental to the opposed faces of the form 5. The lower ends I0 of these arms 'l may be connected by means, not shown herein, to mechanism which may be actu.-

ated to cause the presser members to swing toward and from the form 5 to press the upper of a shoe thereover.

The form 5 as herein shown comprises a pair of side sections I5 and I6 which are mounted for adjustment relative to each other, this adjustment, as shown, being provided through a pivotal connection as on the hinge pintle I'l between these sections I5 and I6, each of which is provided with hinge elements I8 through which the pintle I'I may extend. This pintle l1, it will be noted, is positioned adjacent to one end of the form, this being the heel end, and in order that the parts I5 and I6 may have a limited relative angular motion, the adjacent faces I9 and 20 of these sections I5 and I6 are cut away as shown in Figure 4. 'Ihe bracket support 4 is shown as integral with one of the sections such as I6 and to the lower face of this section I6 is shown secured a plate 22 which underlies the section I5 and furnishes a support therefor on which the section I5 may slide. The plate 22 is shown as secured to the lower face of the section I6, as by screws 23. By this arrangement the forward portions of the sections I5 and I6 may be brought toward or from each other to contract or expand the form in accordance with different sizes of shoe uppers which may be placed thereover. These sections have inwardly turned or curved shoe upper engaging faces 25 and 26 against which the upper edge portions of the shoe upper to be treated may be pressed in order to turn these rim portions of the shoe inwardly and to press the linings and extend the outers at their upper edges thereover so as to thin the lining edges and to conceal or substantially conceal them from view, and to narrow the shoe opening and to straighten it lengthwise, thus to make it conform more closely to the lines of the foot, so that the shoe will hug the foot and better t thereto.

One of the sections, as section I6, is provided with a convex extension 2l which may be engaged in a correspondingly shaped recess 28 in the section I5. This extension 21 provides sufficient stock to permit the formation of a circular socket 29 arranged lengthwise of the section I6 and into which may be inserted an electric heating unit 39 by which the form as a whole may be heated in order to cause shrinkage of the lining of a shoe upper which may be placed over the form.

Means are provided for adjusting the .spacing of the forward end portions of the sections I5 and I6 and for securing them in adjusted relation. As

shown, this means comprises a screw extend-` ing through mating openings 36` and 3'! in the form sections I6 and i5, respectively, and threaded into a socket 38 in the section I6. The head 39 .of this screw bears in a recess 40 in the outer face of the form I5 and this head limits the lateral expansion permitted by separation of the forward end portions of the sections I5 and I6. The parts may be held in this outward limit of motion as by means of a set screw 45 (see Figures 4 and 6) threaded in a socket 46 in the section I5, and bearing against the adjacent face of the extension 2'I of the section I5. This provides a secure adjustment and positive securement of the sections together, which will permit them to withstand the thrust thereagainst of the presser members 6 when they are brought to press a shoe upper placed over the form 5 against the outer faces of the sections I5 and I6.

The presser members which cooperate with this form are shown in detail in Figure 8, each comprising a member 50 preferably provided with a rubber lining faced with light leather or similar material, as at 5I, having a contour substantially mating the contour of the mating sections I5 and I5 of the form as shown in Figure 9. Each of these presser members 5I) is shown as fulcrumed as at 52 to a support 53, which is secured to the end face of one of the arms 'I. This pivotal connection permits the presser members to be adjusted'angularly to suit the relative angular adjustment of the form sections I5 and I5 and when in the proper angular position, each of these presser members may be so held as by means of the set screws 54, which are threaded through mating flange portions 55 and 56 of the arm 1 and the support 53, and which bear at their ends on the rear portions of the presser member 5U on either side of the fulcrum 52. Thus, as the presser members are brought together over the form to press the shoe upper thereagainst, this shoe upper adjacent to this margin is curved inwardly, producing a wiping or pulling of the top portion of the outer beyond the edge of the lining and pressing and thinning the lining into the outer. This wiping and pulling action is increased by the downward springing of the forward end of the gocseneck Aportion 3 due to the wedging pressure of the members 50 against the form, and by the yielding nature of the linings 5I of these members.

In place of the screws 54, springs 58 may be substituted as shown in Figure 10, so that the conformation of the presser members 5i! to the adjustment of the form sections I5 and I5 is automatically effected.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a shoe form comprising sections extending lengthwise of the form and adjustable toward and from each other, of means for pressing over a substantial area a shoe upper placed on said form against the surface of said form to conform said upper area to the surface contour of said form.

2. In combination, a laterally expansible and contractible form over which a shoe upper may be placed, and means for pressing over a substantial area a shoe upper placed over said form against the surface of said form to conform said upper area to the surface contour of said form.

3. In combination, a laterally expansible and contractible form over which a shoe upper may be placed, means for securing said form in any adjusted condition of expansion or contraction, and means for pressing a shoe upper placed over said form against the surface of said form.

4. In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair `of side sections, means supporting said side sections for relative adjusting movement, means for xing said sections in any adjusted relation, and a pair of presser members cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form,

5. In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair of side sections, means supporting said side sections for relative adjusting movement, means for fixing said sections in any adjusted relation, a pair of presser members cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form, and means for supporting said members for conformation to any adjusted relation of said side sections.

6. A shoe form over which a shoe upper may be placed, comprising sections extending lengthwise of said form, means for positively fixing said sections in relatively adjusted relation and means for pressing the shoe upper against said form.

7. In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair of side sections, means pivotally connecting said sections together, means for xingsaid sections in angularly adjusted relation, and a pair of presser members cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form.

In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair of side sections, means pivotally connecting said sections together, means for fixing said sections in angularly adjusted relation, and a pair of presser members cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form, said presser members being pivotallymounted about pivots substantially parallel to said form pivot to permit them to conform angularly to the adjusted positions of said form sections.

9. A machine comprising a form over which a shoe may be placed, said form comprising a pair of side portions hinged together, means fixing said portions in adjusted angular relation, and a presser member movable toward and from each side of said form to press a shoe upper against said form, each presser member having a pivotal mounting on a pivot extending substantially heightwise of said shoe.

l0. A machine comprising a form over which a shoe may be placed, said form comprising a pair of side portions hinged together, means fixing said portions in adjusted angular relation, a presser member movable toward and from each side of said form to press a shoe upper against said form, each presser member having a pivotal mounting on a pivot extending substantially heightwise of said shoe, and means yieldingly holding each presser member in one angular position about its pivot.

11. A shoe form over which a shoe upper may be placed, said form comprising a pair of side sections pivoted together, means for positively securing said sections together in adjusted angular relation, and a plate extending from one of said sections for sliding support of the other of said sections.

12. A shoe form over which a shoe upper may be placed, said form comprising a pair of side sections hingedly connected adjacent to one end, screw means for adjusting and fixing said sections in adjusted angular relation, one of said sections having a recess to receive a heating unit, means for supporting one of said sections, and means on said one section for supporting the other of said sections.

13. A shoe form over which a shoe upper may be placed, saidI form comprising a pair of side sections hingedly connected, a support for one of said sections, a plate carried by said one section and underlying and supporting the other of said sections, and means for securing said sections in adjusted angular relation.

14. A shoe form over which a shoe upper may be placed, said form comprising a pair of relatively adjustable side sections, and means fixing said sections in adjusted relation, each of said sections having an inturned side face, and means for pressing the side Wall of a. shoe upper adjacent to its top rim against said side face.

15. In combination with a shoe form comprising sections extending lengthwise of the form and adjustable toward and from each other, of means for holding said sections in adjusted relation, and means for pressing a shoe upper placed on said form against the surface of said form.

16. In combination, a laterally expansible and contractible form over which a shoe upper may be placed, means holding said form in, a desired condition of expansion and contraction, and means for pressing a shoe upper placed over said form against the surface of said form.

17. In combination, a form over which a shoe upper may be placed, means including a presser member contoured generally complemental to the surface of said form for pressing the upper of a shoe placed over said form against the surface of said form, an actuating member supporting said presser member for pivotal motion about an axis substantially heightwise of a shoe on said form and means for moving said actuating member and form relatively to cause said presser member to move from and toward the surface of said form.

18. In combination, a laterally expansible and contractible form over which a shoe upper may be placed, means for securing said form in any adjusted condition of expansion or contraction, and means including an upper engaging member contoured substantially complemental to said form for pressing a shoe upper placed over said form against the surface of said form.

19. In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair of side sections, means supporting said side sections for relative adjusting movement, means for fixing said sections in any adjusted relation, and a pair of presser members each contoured substantially complemental to the coacting face portions of said form and cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form.

20. In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair of side sections, means supporting said side sections for relative adjusting movement, means for iixing said sections in any adjusted relation, a pair of presser members each co-ntoured substantially complementa] to the coacting face portions of said form and cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form, and means for supporting said members for conformation to any adjusted relation of said side sections.

21. In combination, a shoe form comprising a pair of side sections, means pivotally connecting said sections together, means for fixing said sections in angularly adjusted relation, and a pair of presser members each contoured substantially complemental to the coacting face portions of said form and cooperating to press a shoe upper against said form.

22. In combination, a form over which a shoe upper may be placed, means including a presser member contoured generally complemental to the surface of said form for pressing the upper of a shoe 'placed over said form against the surface of said form, a movable actuating member supporting said presser member for pivotal motion about an axis transverse to the length of said form, and springs interposed between said actuating member and said presser member permitting automatic lengthwise conformation of said member to the side surface of said form against which it presses said upper as said actuating member moves said presser member toward said form.

GEORGE HARRY DOVE. ROBERT PADDY SWAIN. 

